The UAE has secured its place among the world’s top ten destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), attracting a record AED 167.6 billion (USD 45.6 billion) in inflows in 2024, according to the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2025.
The achievement marks a 48% year-on-year increase and reinforces the country’s standing as a magnet for global capital amid a challenging international landscape.
This performance places the UAE tenth globally for total FDI inflows and second worldwide—after the United States—in newly announced greenfield investment projects, with 1,369 initiatives launched in 2024. The country also captured 37% of all FDI entering the Middle East region.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum credited the milestone to the visionary leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighting the UAE’s strong economic foundation and clear development focus.
“Our message is simple: development is the key to stability, and the economy is the most important policy,”
he said.
Key sectors driving investment include software and IT services, business services, renewable energy, oil and gas, and real estate. Greenfield FDI into the energy sector alone reached AED 4.8 billion (USD 1.3 billion), supporting national goals to expand renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The Ministry of Investment attributed the surge to investor-friendly policies such as full foreign ownership, a 9% corporate tax rate, streamlined licensing, and legal reforms. Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi said the UAE’s strategic framework and long-term vision continue to position it as a global investment leader.
With cumulative FDI stock reaching USD 270.6 billion in 2024 and a 10.5% compound annual growth rate since 2015, the UAE now aims to attract AED 1.3 trillion in FDI by 2030 under its National Investment Strategy.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
